The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-05
A LOUISVILLE MOB.
The City of Louisville Excited Over the
Jennie Bowman Murder-Lynchinx of the
Murdercrs Only Prevented by the Mill
f..rx and POLICE.


more determined effort would be made to.
lynch the negroes at night The ramors-
that Miss Jennie Bowman had died of her
injuries in circulation tended to revive the.
excitement over the outrage, and toward
evening crowds began to collect on the.
streets in the vicinity Of the Jail, until by
ten O'Clock several thousand men and boys,
were in the neigkborhood- Later another
crowd assembled, probably 500 strong, and,
marched down Jefferson street, steadily an O.
silently, until near the corner Of Sixth and
Jefferson streets, where they were met by
one hundred police, who rushed out of q
hall where they were bivouacked. The
crowd moved on in determined manner
that seemed likely to force the police aside,
but the latter stood firm, and for q time
there was pell- nell, hand-to-hand fight,
which resulted in several broken heads and
arrests. The leaders were soon taken and.
rushed OF 10 q station house, and the crowd
gave way and took to their heels and IN a.
moment were in full flight The police,
after pursuing them short distance. re-
turned and formed line across the street..
where they remained on guard
The answer of the Governor to q call for
aid from the militia was received at II :15-
o'clock yesterday morning, and several.
companies were ordered to guard the jail
Despite this, however, at l2:35 p. N. the
agreed signal of eleven taps by the fire;
department bells in case Of an attack upon
the Jail was rung, as great crowds of peo-
pie were pressing toward the Jail, around
which the militia were stationed, and the
police and a mob were flghting
By 12:45 p. m. about 8, 90 people were as
semoled on the Jail square, and Jefferson
street was the scene of great confusion,
people rushing toward the Jail from all
points, but no serious collision had occurred
and it was not expected that any would at,
present, as the crowd was forming out of
curiosity. Later, however, it was reported
that the alarm was the usual call to notify
the members Of the legion when they were.
expected to report for duty at the armory.
The people misunderstood the alarm. The
crowd then dispersed and no more trouble.
was feared Late in the afternoon the
mayor issued the following proclamation:
MAYORS OFFICE, LOUISVILLE, KY, April %
TO the people of Louisville: II is my duty
as mayor to eEIoin upon the people the neees--
sity for preserving order and maintaining the
majesty of the law. A most dIabolical crime
has been committed in our city, but the
Law must infict the punishment. y riot.
is more dangerous TO good government.
than any individual criminal. Lynch law
subverts every principle OF law and at
tacks our very civilization. l. therefore, in
the discharge of my duty, request every citizen
to remain at home tonight and to avoid all
gatherings, and caution parents not to permit.
their children to go in the streets, as their
presence increases the number and adds to the
excitement. 1 must and will discharge my
duty TO uphold the law and 10 preserve good
order, and l command all riOtous asssmblages.
TO disperse. Z. b. REED. Mayor.
While the mayor was inditing the above
the first movement looking to an organiza-
tion of the exasperated people, who openly
and on all sides advocated lynching, was
being made. In response to a notice which
had been distributed among the thousands
who rushed to the Jail at the alarm at mid
day, given TO order the members OF the.
militia to report for duty, about 500 men
gathered in front of Leiderkranz hall, ON
Market street. The janltOr refused them
admission TO the hall and the police were,
endeavOring to disperse them, when Dr.
Berry, well known physician Of the city.
mounted barrel on the sidewalk and ad-
dressed them. He said that since the
brutal crime of Patterson and Turner none
of the women and children feel any secu-
rity, and that while he generally was Op-
posed to mob law, there was nothing to DO
a
feDds The law had again and again failed
to punish murderers. They had been sent
to the penitentiary when they ought to
have been hung. the lawyers defended
blood d-stained criminals whom they knew to-
be guilty IL this crime was not atOned
for a chance would be missed to set a ter
rible example to the hundreds of idle,
worthless and thieving negroes who in
Tested the alleys and slums of the city.
The doctor was cheered at frequent inter
walls. While he was speaking Major Kinney,
a leading criminal lawyer, passed through
the crowd. A number or the men stopped
him and then, surrounding him, demanded
in an excited manner why he defended
men whom he knew 70 be criminals. The
major commenced 10 explain and expOstu-
late, declaring that he had never acted as
attorney for a man whom he believed TO be
guilty. He was never more earnest or elO-
Quent in his life, and breathed heavy sigh
of relief when he slipped out of that throng-
The doctor resumed his remarks and the
meeting adjourned to hall near by, where
the names of about one hundred citizens
whose sentiments were known, and who, it
was believed, would join any organized effort
to lynch the negroes, were selected.
On Market street crowd of about 100
men were marchingup and down. each with
about q foot of white cotton rope tied to
the arm. In a prominent place on the
court house is the illuminated design=
Wanted-5O0 men to join this mob" Up
to this writing good order has prevailed
The mob appears to have no leader and ap-
pears to be only watching out of curiosity
for something to turn up. The police and
militia are determined to defend the jail,
come what may, and if the attempt Is made
there will be bloodshed sure.
The soldiers late last night were ordered
from the armory to the Jail, with Calling
gun. A crowd Of fully 10000 people was
surging to and fro on Jefferson street
Many women were seen mingling with the
crowd. All appeared to be attracted by
only, and the best Of order pre-
vailed.
At 1890 a. m. the crowd about the court
house square dwindled down to 300 or 400
people, and they were dispensing gradually.
Three hundred and fifty soldiers with a
Gatling gun and 80 armed policemen
stood guard at the jail. The
meeting agreed upon to take
place at the court house to-day will
lot be allowed, and there is hardly doubt
low that the law will be allowed TO take
IS course. The girl is almost certain to
lie, and the evidence is strong enough IN
hat case to bring both men TO the gal
ows.
A CIew to the Robbers.